Factors Influencing the Adoption of Climate-Smart Irrigation Technologies for Sustainable Crop Productivity by Smallholder Farmers in Arid Areas of South Africa

Batizi Serote, Salmina Mokgehle, Christian Du Plooy, Sylvester Mpandeli, Luxon Nhamo and Grany Senyolo
Additional contact information
Batizi Serote: Vegetable Industrial and Medicinal Plants (VIMP), Agricultural Research Council, Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Salmina Mokgehle: Vegetable Industrial and Medicinal Plants (VIMP), Agricultural Research Council, Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Christian Du Plooy: Vegetable Industrial and Medicinal Plants (VIMP), Agricultural Research Council, Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Sylvester Mpandeli: Water Utilisation in Agriculture, Water Research Commission (WRC), Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0081, South Africa
Luxon Nhamo: Water Utilisation in Agriculture, Water Research Commission (WRC), Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0081, South Africa
Grany Senyolo: Department of Crop Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-17

Abstract: The adoption of climate-smart irrigation technologies amongst smallholder farmers generally remains low beside their role in combating food and nutrition security in a society and in climate change adaptation strategies. This study identified the factors influencing smallholder farmers’ decision to adopt Climate Smart Irrigation Technologies (CSIT) in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Data were collected through the completion of a face-to-face structured questionnaire by 100 smallholder farmers selected through convenience and purposive sampling. A probit regression and OLS model were used to identify factors that influence the smallholder farmer’s decision to adopt CSIT and the level of adoption. The results indicated that only 46% of the smallholder farmers adopted climate-smart irrigation technologies and suggested that adoption is influenced positively by factors such as gender, age, district, farm size, staple food production and knowledge on CSIT. There is an urgent need for related stakeholders to transform the smallholder farmer subsector through improved extension services, training, adopting resilient crop varieties, promoting underutilized and nutrient-dense crops adapted to harsh local conditions, and other interventions. This should be done by promoting awareness to smallholder farmers regarding these interventions and new technologies that have the potential to improve rural livelihoods and enhance resilience and adaptation.

Keywords: adaptation and resilience; traditional irrigation methods; climate change; Limpopo Province; probit model; OLS model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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